In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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December 31, 2007

Polite plant, winter flowers

Q: We're looking for a winter blooming plant that grows two to three feet high. Any suggestions?
Bob Bryans, Lincoln

A: Try Daphne. It makes a beautiful mound about 3 feet high and as wide at maturity, doesn't need pruning or maintenance, though does have a reputation for being picky. It wants good drainage, regular water and some shade. My oldest Daphne is seven or eight years old, and I've never had to prune it.

Now is a great time to see them at nurseries since they are just about to bloom. Truly, the scent is amazing. You can snip a small twig with flowers and it will scent an entire room. One of my favorites is Daphne aureomarginata with its leaves edged in gold.

Another good choice is sweet box, Sarcococca ruscifolia. Books say it grows to five feet tall and as wide, but mine, which is about four years old, is only two feet across and as tall. It seems to grow very slowly, and I think you could keep in to the size you want. It has glossy, dark green leaves that are covered in masses of tiny vanilla-scented flowers in winter. Then it makes berries that go from red to black. The plant often has berries and flowers at ther same time.

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